Arts & Museums

The Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum located in London features an extensive and comprehensive collection of literature from Belarus. With over 30,000 volumes the library is said to the best source of Belarusian literature in Europe outside Belarus. The books found in the library include works on history, literature, language, religion, folklore, local lore, bibliography, music and art. There is also an extensive collection of music records from Belarus on rock, folk and classical music. The museum section of the library showcases books from before the 1800s, the 19th century and archives from the Belarus Democratic Republic dating 1918. There are new publications purchased from Belarus regularly to keep the collection up to date. The library is an independent institution and depends on donations and funds from well wishers.

This museum was made to acknowledge and cherish the varied contributions of the British Jews towards the Armed Forces of the British Government spanning from 18th century to present day, and to erase contradictory misconceptions which wrongly assume that Jews did not play a major role in the activities of the Armed Forces. Henry Morris was the person who came up with the plan to build this museum. The collections displayed cover various historical events, but the major focus is on the two World Wars. The museum also offers genealogy data, which consists of a huge collection of names of all the Jewish people who participated in the Second World War.

At the RAF Museum, you'll be treated to a dramatic retelling of the story of the Air Force - and the history of flight in Britain and around the world. You'll see real planes, jets and bombers, as well as engines, weapons and other vehicles integral to any serious war. You'll see uniforms, medals and other awards, photo galleries and informational archives. The museum also lets out its premises for private events. See website for complete visitor details.

The Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture is located in Colindale, Barnet and is a part of Middlesex university. It features a comprehensive collections of interior designs for homes developed in the 19th and 20th century. The Domestic Design collection features thousands of books, catalogues and magazines on the subject of home design and decoration. Tours of the museum can be arranged by appointment only. However, one can view some of the collections on their online website and exhibitions. The museum welcomes student, lecturers and researchers of interior design as well as the general public who have an interest in the topic.

The Bow House Gallery is one of the nicest art galleries in Barnet and welcomes visitors with its lighthearted and cheery ambiance. It possesses an impressive permanent collection of sculptures that are interesting and unusual. The gallery which is housed inside the cellar of an old house owned by John Brown is also a great place for artists to meet and network with fellow-artists.

The Barnet Museuem is a small museum showcasing local history and artifacts from the ancient era to modern times. It has a comprehensive collection of pictures, maps, books and documents donated by local residents who wish to preserve the culture of the city. Entry to the museum is free and visitors can easily access the library and reference collection for local and family research. Some of the popular items on display are axe heads from teh Bronze age, army and battle weaponry from the medieval era and items recovered from the World Wars. The museum is run by a local charity and welcomes donations and funds which are required for expansion and maintenance purposes.

If you're on the lookout for something different, then it might be worth checking out this Russian art specialist in North London. Like many other companies who have recently started selling directly to the public, this unique gallery is only open for free viewing on Sunday. On the ground floor is a huge stock of Oriental rugs imported directly from the East, and hand-knotted rugs from the former USSR are a specialty. The upstairs art gallery offers a range of framed and unframed oil paintings, and Russian art is best represented with key names from the 19th century to modern day.

The Camden Arts Centre is a venue for modern visual art, and is involved with promoting work by young artists, be it photographic, sculpture or paintings. True to its Camden name, this center's three galleries hold very cool, contemporary exhibitions throughout the year. The shows are usually a few weeks long, changing as artists residencies change.

Queens Crescent Arts Space is a contemporary arts space that displays the works of several emerging and established artists. The gallery has showcased the creations of Heather Blockey, a photographer who has captured billboards and other spaces and created a collection from these. The gallery hosts new exhibitions from time to time, and is a part of the Queens Crescent Practice, an art space.

The Freud Museum occupies the former home of Sigmund Freud and his family. The focus of the museum is Freud's library and study, preserved just as it was during his lifetime, including his remarkable collection of Greek, Egyptian, Roman and Oriental antiques. In all the museum holds almost 2000 artifacts, including the desk where Freud used. Undoubtedly the most famous piece of furniture in the entire collection is Freud's couch, on which his patients reclined while revealing their innermost hopes and fears. The museum's central function is to celebrate the lives and works of Sigmund and his youngest daughter Anna Freud, but it is also being developed as a cultural and research center for psychoanalysis. The education service organizes seminars, conferences and special visits to the museum. The shop offers plenty of books on Freud himself, as well as a wide range of books on contemporary psychoanalysis.

Annroy, located at Grafton Road, is an official exhibition center of Rankin, a famous photographer. The eye-catching building reflects the contemporary outlook of the exhibits quite well. A visit to the place will definitely be an enriching experience for photography enthusiasts. For details on the schedules of exhibition please visit their website.

Based in London, The Noble Sage Art Gallery is an Asian art exhibition center. It showcases Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan modern contemporary art. The art pieces exhibited in the gallery are sculpture, paper works, paintings, etc. The gallery was inaugurated in 2006 by Jana Manuelpillai and features about 40 artists. If you like their artwork, you can purchase selected items from their website. Log on to know more.